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Court of Common Council - Thursday, 22nd May, 2025 1.00 pm

May 22, 2025 View on council website
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Summary

The Court of Common Council of the City of London Corporation was scheduled to meet on 22 May 2025. On the agenda was the consideration of resolutions from annual wardmotes, revisions to standing orders regarding property transaction thresholds, and appointments to various committees. Members were also expected to receive reports on the City of London Policing Plan 2025-28, urgent actions taken, and recent legislation.

Wardmote Resolutions

The Court of Common Council was scheduled to consider resolutions arising from the annual Wardmotes1 of Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Cripplegate, and Dowgate.

  • The Ward of Aldersgate requested an independent inquiry into the Speak for the City campaign, citing a failure to increase the number of contested wards, voters, and candidates in the 2025 elections.

    Either the 'Speak for the City' campaign has failed or the system of election to Common Council has failed. In either case an independent enquiry is called for”.

  • The Wards of Bishopsgate and Dowgate both requested the re-introduction of ward newsletters to improve engagement with businesses, residents, livery companies2, and students on local issues.

  • The Ward of Cripplegate raised two issues:

    • The first was a request for the Court of Common Council to appoint a Lead Member for Urban Greening and Biodiversity, to enhance green spaces independently of planning requirements. > Resolves to request the Court of Common Council to appoint a Lead Member for Urban Greening and Biodiversity charged with ensuring City Corporation takes all necessary steps to increase urban greening and biodiversity enhancement independently of any requirements for the same in planning applications and other development proposals.
    • The second concerned the democratic process, seeking an investigation into why a fully democratically elected group of members to the Common Council had not been achieved.

Property Transaction Thresholds

The Policy and Resources Committee was scheduled to present a report recommending revisions to the standing orders regarding property transaction thresholds. The existing thresholds require approval from the Court of Common Council for all transactions valued at £5 million and above. The proposed revisions suggest increasing this threshold, so that all transactions below £20 million would be approved under delegation to officers. Transactions between £20 million and £50 million would require committee approval, while those of £50 million and over would still require approval from the Court of Common Council.

The report stated that the City Bridge Foundation Board also approved increases for the assets under its purview by the same amounts, covering both investment and non-investment property assets.

The Policy and Resources Committee believed that increasing the authorisation to officers would allow for more agile decision-making on property transactions, while still allowing Members to retain oversight of the strategic direction of the investment portfolio.

Appointments

The Court was scheduled to consider several appointments to various committees and boards. These included:

  • Capital Buildings Board (one vacancy)
    • Nominations received: James Tumbridge, Philip Woodhouse
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Sub-Committee (two vacancies)
    • Nominations received: Dr Joanna Abeyie, Josephine Hayes, David Williams
  • Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queens Park Committee (three vacancies)
    • Nomination received: Karina Dostalova
  • Natural Environment Board and West Ham Park Committee (one vacancy)
    • Nomination received: Karina Dostalova
  • Digital Services Committee (three vacancies)
    • Nomination received: Philip Kelvin
  • Licensing Committee (four vacancies)
    • Nominations received: Samapti Bagchi, Alderman Prem Goyal, Matthew Waters
  • Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee (one vacancy)
    • Nomination received: Alderwoman Elizabeth King
  • Education Board (one vacancy)
    • Nomination received: Timothy McNally
  • Board of Governors of the London Museum (two vacancies)
    • Nominations received: Elizabeth Corrin, Sarah Gillinson, Gaby Robertshaw
  • Trust for London (one vacancy)
    • Nominations received: Alderwoman Elizabeth King, Philip Woodhouse
  • The Honourable The Irish Society (eight Common Councillors)
    • Nominations received: Matthew Bell, Deputy Keith Bottomley, Deputy Anne Corbett, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Dawn Frampton, Shravan Joshi, Fraser Peck, Gaby Robertshaw, Deputy Oliver Sells, Philip Woodhouse, Deputy Dawn Wright

City of London Policing Plan 2025-28

The Court was scheduled to receive a report on the City of London Policing Plan 2025-28. The plan outlines the City of London Police’s priorities for the next three years and how they will be achieved. It was developed jointly by the City of London Police and Corporation’s Police Authority team, incorporating comments from the City of London Police Authority Board, consultations with local residents, workers, and businesses, and with regard to relevant national strategies and statutory documents including the Strategic Policing Requirement.

The plan has three operational priorities: keeping people in the City safe and feeling safe, putting victims at the heart of all it does, and improving the national policing response to fraud, economic and cyber-crime. It also has three organisational priorities: to be one of the most inclusive and trusted police services in the country, to be an employer of choice, and to improve City Police productivity.

Other Business

  • The Court was to consider a circulated list of applications for the Freedom of the City3.
  • The agenda included a report on action taken under urgency procedures concerning the suspension of Standing Order 26.
  • A report was to be received setting out measures introduced into Parliament which may have an effect on the services provided by the City Corporation.

  1. A wardmote is a meeting of the residents of a ward, which is a division of a city or borough, for administrative and electoral purposes. 

  2. Livery companies are London's ancient trade associations, playing a role in governance, philanthropy, and industry networking. 

  3. The Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by the City of London Corporation, often recognizing significant contributions to public life or the city itself. 

Attendees

Profile image for George Christopher Abrahams
George Christopher Abrahams  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Munsur Ali
Munsur Ali  Portsoken
Profile image for Shahnan Bakth
Shahnan Bakth  Coleman Street
Profile image for Jamel Banda
Jamel Banda  Cordwainer
Profile image for Brendan Barns
Brendan Barns  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Matthew Bell
Matthew Bell  Farringdon Within
Carl Bernhardt
Profile image for Keith David Forbes Bottomley, Deputy
Keith David Forbes Bottomley, Deputy  Bridge and Bridge Without
Peter Cannon
COL - Events
Profile image for Anne Corbett, Deputy
Anne Corbett, Deputy  Labour •  Cripplegate
Profile image for John Ernest Edwards, Deputy
John Ernest Edwards, Deputy  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Sir Peter Estlin
Sir Peter Estlin  Alderman •  Coleman Street
Profile image for Helen Lesley Fentimen OBE JP, Deputy
Helen Lesley Fentimen OBE JP, Deputy  Labour •  Aldersgate
Profile image for John Foley
John Foley  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Dawn Frampton
Dawn Frampton  Cripplegate
James Gibson
Marcelina Gilka
Profile image for Steve Goodman OBE
Steve Goodman OBE  Labour •  Aldersgate
Profile image for Alison Gowman CBE
Alison Gowman CBE  Alderman •  Dowgate
Profile image for Prem Goyal OBE
Prem Goyal OBE  Alderman •  Portsoken
Profile image for Martha Grekos
Martha Grekos  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Timothy Russell Hailes
Timothy Russell Hailes  Alderman •  Bassishaw
Profile image for Ann Holmes, Deputy
Ann Holmes, Deputy  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Amy Horscroft
Amy Horscroft  Cordwainer
Profile image for Robert Charles Hughes-Penney
Robert Charles Hughes-Penney  Alderman •  Cheap
Profile image for Gregory Jones KC
Gregory Jones KC  Alderman and Sheriff •  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Vincent Keaveny CBE
Vincent Keaveny CBE  Alderman •  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Florence Keelson-Anfu
Florence Keelson-Anfu  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Dame Susan Langley, DBE
Dame Susan Langley, DBE  Alderwoman •  Aldgate
Profile image for Gregory Alfred Lawrence
Gregory Alfred Lawrence  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Tim Levene
Tim Levene  Alderman •  Bridge and Bridge Without
Profile image for Charles Edward Lord, OBE JP
Charles Edward Lord, OBE JP  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Professor Michael Raymond Mainelli
Professor Michael Raymond Mainelli  Alderman •  Broad Street
Profile image for Christopher Makin
Christopher Makin  Alderman •  Aldersgate
Profile image for Bronek Masojada
Bronek Masojada  Alderman •  Billingsgate
Profile image for Tim McNally
Tim McNally  Aldgate
Profile image for Wendy Mead OBE
Wendy Mead OBE  Farringdon Without
Gregory Moore
Profile image for Jennette Rachel Newman
Jennette Rachel Newman  Alderwoman •  Walbrook
Profile image for Deborah Oliver TD
Deborah Oliver TD  Aldersgate
Profile image for Suzanne Ornsby KC
Suzanne Ornsby KC  Farringdon Without
Chhaya Patel
Profile image for Simon Pryke
Simon Pryke  Langbourn
Profile image for Anett Rideg
Anett Rideg  Aldersgate
Maureen Romeri
Profile image for Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell
Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell  Alderman •  Bread Street
Profile image for David Sales
David Sales  Aldgate
Profile image for Ruby Sayed
Ruby Sayed  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Hugh Selka
Hugh Selka  Bridge and Bridge Without
Profile image for Oliver Sells KC, Deputy
Oliver Sells KC, Deputy  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Alethea Silk
Alethea Silk  Walbrook
Profile image for Tom Sleigh, Deputy
Tom Sleigh, Deputy  Bishopsgate
Harinder Thandi
Profile image for William Upton KC
William Upton KC  Farringdon Without
Alessia Ursini
Jacqueline watson
Profile image for Jacqueline Roberts Webster
Jacqueline Roberts Webster  Labour •  Cripplegate
Profile image for Philip Woodhouse
Philip Woodhouse  Langbourn
Profile image for Irem Yerdelen
Irem Yerdelen  Lime Street
Profile image for Kawsar Zaman
Kawsar Zaman  Bishopsgate
Profile image for Tana Adkin KC
Tana Adkin KC  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Samapti Bagchi
Samapti Bagchi  Portsoken
Profile image for Leyla Boulton
Leyla Boulton  Bassishaw
Profile image for Simon Burrows
Simon Burrows  Bishopsgate
Profile image for Lesley Cole
Lesley Cole  Aldgate
Profile image for Bethany Coombs, Deputy
Bethany Coombs, Deputy  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Elizabeth Corrin
Elizabeth Corrin  Broad Street
Profile image for Karina Dostalova
Karina Dostalova  Bishopsgate
Profile image for Susan Farrington
Susan Farrington  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Sarah Helen Gillinson
Sarah Helen Gillinson  Labour •  Cripplegate
Profile image for Mercy Haggerty
Mercy Haggerty  Labour •  Cripplegate
Profile image for Josephine Hayes
Josephine Hayes  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Adam Michael Hogg
Adam Michael Hogg  Cripplegate
Profile image for Sandra Jenner
Sandra Jenner  Labour •  Aldersgate
Profile image for Philip Kelvin
Philip Kelvin  Coleman Street
Profile image for Helen Ladele
Helen Ladele  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Vasiliki Manta
Vasiliki Manta  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Sophia Mooney
Sophia Mooney  Queenhithe
Profile image for Leyla Ostovar
Leyla Ostovar  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Fraser Stuart Peck
Fraser Stuart Peck  Farringdon Within
Profile image for Gaby Robertshaw
Gaby Robertshaw  Cripplegate
Profile image for Sushil Kumar Saluja
Sushil Kumar Saluja  Coleman Street
Profile image for Stephanie Steeden
Stephanie Steeden  Castle Baynard
Profile image for Stuart Peter James Thompson
Stuart Peter James Thompson  Farringdon Without
Profile image for Matthew Waters
Matthew Waters  Langbourn
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